The 2014 FIFA World Cup came to an end this Sunday evening and it’s Germany who leaves South America with a big smile on their face. The Mannschaft proved to be the best team throughout the whole tournament and after 120 minutes of game against a very well organized Argentinian side, they got the better of them thanks to a late goal in extra-time from Bayern Munich‘s attacking midfielder, Mario Götze.

Playing a World Cup final is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most of the players who get there. Messi for example, is now 27 years old and even though this was the third time he made a World Cup appearance, it was also the only occasion where he had the chance to reach this stage of the tournament. He might not have any further opportunity to become World champion for Argentina and whether we agree or not with that, it will always be something which many critics will judge him for…

Unlike many other Cup finals, Argentina and Germany approached this game with a quite positive attitude and willing to play an attacking football. They obviously kept loyal to their tactical and defensive discipline shown during most stages of the tournament, but at the same time, they always managed to display an entertaining game at the attacking end. The game may have finished goalless after the regular 90 minutes were over, but the truth is that both sides ended up having several great chances of breaking the deadlock during the 1st and 2nd half.

One of the biggest absences coming into this game was Argentina‘s Angel di María. The Real Madrid winger didn’t recover in time from an injury in his thigh and was forced to watch the final from the bench. He wasn’t the only blow ahead of this clash though, since his teammate in Real Madrid but opponent on the day, Sami Khedira, was also dropped from Germany‘s starting eleven a few minutes before the kick, following a calf injury during the warm-up sessions for the final.

As expected, the two teams matched up pretty well and most of the goal-scoring chances we’ve seen happening in this game were originated on either compromising mistakes in defense, or simply distractions from the back four lines. Argentina for example, had one of their best chances when Gonzalo Higuaín saw Real Madrid‘s new signing Toni Kroos heading back a high ball and setting him up with a 1-on-1 situation against Manuel Neuer. The Napoli forward failed to keep his composure though and wasted that golden opportunity to break the deadlock deep in the first half. A few instants before the break, Germany also got very close to get in front, but Howedes powerful header slammed against Romero‘s left post…

The decisive moment of this World Cup final arrived only in the 2nd half of the extra-time period. With the two teams already starting to prepare themselves mentally to go through a dramatic penalty shootout, two German players who had came off the bench, had a different idea in mind. In the 113rd minute, Chelsea‘s midfielder Andre Schurrle raced several meters down the left wing just before sending in a perfectly weighed cross to Argentina‘s box. Waiting for that pass was Bayern Munich‘s star player, Mario Götze, who chested the ball down before finishing it off with a perfect left-foot strike. Definitely one of the best goals we’ve seen in this World Cup and what better time for Mario Götze to showcase his talent than a final like this! Argentina still tried to react in the remaining minutes, but Germany held on until the referee’s final whistle and meritoriously clinched the 4th FIFA World Cup title in their history.